Behind the 'creative destruction' of human diets: An analysis of the structure and market dynamics of the ultra-processed food manufacturing industry and implications for public health

A global transition towards diets increasingly dominated by ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has occurred in recent decades to the detriment of public health and the environment. This study aimed to examine long-term trends in the structure and market dynamics of the global UPF manufacturing industry as part of broader efforts to understand the drivers of this transition. Using diverse methods, metrics and data sources, we examined several dimensions (e.g., industry concentration and profitability) according to an adapted structure-conduct-performance model. We found that the global UPF manufacturing industry has evolved to become a major component of global food systems, with its longstanding dominant corporations becoming some of the system's largest accumulators of profit and distributors of capital. It follows that reversing the global UPF dietary transition will require structural and regulatory changes to ensure that population diets, and food systems more broadly, are not subordinated to the interests of powerful for-profit business corporations.

Automated summary

In recent decades, the global consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has increased, leading to negative impacts on public health and the environment. This study examined the long-term trends in the structure and market dynamics of the global UPF manufacturing industry to better understand the drivers of this dietary transition. By using various methods, metrics, and data sources, the study found that the UPF manufacturing industry has become a significant component of global food systems, with dominant corporations accumulating high profits and distributing capital. To reverse this global UPF dietary transition, structural and regulatory changes are necessary to ensure that population diets and food systems are not controlled by powerful for-profit corporations.